Sibikwa still strong in the arts after 30 years

Over the years the centre tasked itself into bringing inclusive theatre and the arts to the communities it served.

September 8, 2018

Penelope Masilela 2 minutes read

The Sibikwa's Saturday Arts (2015-2018) students performed a contemporary dance.

The Sibikwa Arts Centre was alive with music and rhythm as they celebrated their 30th anniversary on August 25.

The centre held the event at its premises in Liverpool Road, Benoni South, to celebrate this milestone.

On the day, there were different performances from dance, drama, poetry, marimba and African drumming.

Various stakeholders from the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Department of Sports, Recreation Arts and Culture and Community Safety Sports Recreation Arts and Culture were also present at the celebration.

Founded in 1988 by Smal Ndaba and Phyllis Klotz, Sibikwa has extensive experience in vocational training in the performing arts, arts education, community development through the arts and the creation of innovative South African performance pieces.

Phyllis Klotz, co-founder of Sibikwa Arts Centre said it has been a long hard road to have achieved this milestone but worth every up and down when you see the young people who have been developed through the arts.

ALSO READ:

The power of Art and its ability to influence our moods

Thirty years ago Smal Ndaba and Phyllis Klotz recognised the need for a space that celebrated the magnificence of human spirit, the profound need for inclusion and most importantly the potential the arts have to provide a potent instrument for heritage preservation, community mobilisation and activism, and a tool to build social cohesion, community capacity and leadership.

With their resources, life experience and diverse talents Ndaba and Klotz founded the Sibikwa Arts Centre in Daveyton.

The centre’s mission was and is still to promote quality arts education, theatre performance, vocational training and job creation in South Africa while preserving, promoting and protecting indigenous languages and cultural practices.

Smal Ndaba, co-founder of The Sibikwa Arts Centre said even though Sibikwa is a community arts centre in Benoni, it has managed to groom stars that are taking the performing arts and film industry by storm – these artists continue to proudly fly our flag high.

“Throughout the 30 years, all this was made possible by the generosity of our funders. Without these donors, Sibikwa wouldn’t be where it is today,” said Ndaba.

Over the years the centre tasked itself into bringing inclusive theatre and the arts to the communities it served.

They challenged both young and old audiences to engage and enjoy theatre, which opened up dialogue, raised social awareness and cemented its role as a touchstone to the country’s past.

Within Ekurhuleni, Sibikwa serves over three million people while its teacher training and youth skills development programmes extend beyond Gauteng’s borders to Free State, North West, Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape.

For more information about Sibikwa, visit www.sibikwa.co.za https://sibikwa.withtank.com or call 011 422 4359.